1. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
- 2016 Heisman Trophy winner
- Ravens tenure: 2018-present
Come on. Who else was ever going to be number one on this list?
Even from his days at Louisville, Lamar Jackson had the look of an NFL standout. His 2016 Heisman Trophy win looks even more impressive four years later given his competition for the award — fellow superstar quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Baker Mayfield.
From the moment Jackson almost singlehandedly saved the Ravens’ 2018 season and carried them to a division title, it was obvious that Joe Flacco’s days in Baltimore were numbered and the era of Lamar Jackson had truly begun.
Jackson’s sheer wizardry has made the Baltimore Ravens one of the NFL’s most exciting teams to watch, and largely thanks to his legs, no team has scored more points or rushed for more yards over the last two seasons.
While he’s often dismissed as merely a running back wearing a quarterback number, keep in mind that Jackson led the league in touchdown passes in 2019.
He’s already on course to be the best quarterback the Ravens have ever had — which, given the competition, is admittedly not that high a bar to clear.
The Lamar Jackson era in Baltimore may have only yielded one playoff victory to date, but give it time. Peyton Manning also had trouble winning “the big one” early in his career, and he eventually retired with two Super Bowl rings.